Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum plant named ‘PIILC-II’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Loropetalum chinense  var.  rubrum  plant named ‘PIILC-II’, characterized by its compact, mounded, spreading growth habit; rich ruby-red new growth maturing to purplish green foliage that persists through summer and winter; bright reddish pink flowers in spring; and improved cold hardiness compared to other compact purple-leaf cultivars.

Genus and species of plant claimed: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum.

Variety denomination: ‘PIILC-II’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum, a member of the Hamamelidaceae family, hereinafter referred to by its cultivar name ‘PIILC-II’. This cultivar is grown primarily as an ornamental for landscape use and for use as a potted plant.

The cultivar originated from an open-pollination of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum ‘Chang Nian Hong’ (not patented) in Watkinsville, Ga. in 2008, and was selected from the progeny seedlings of this open-pollination by continued evaluation for growth habit and improved foliage characteristics. The cultivar ‘PIILC-II’ originated and was discovered in a cultivated environment in an outdoor nursery in Watkinsville, Ga.

‘PIILC-II’ has been asexually reproduced by softwood cuttings since 2009 in Athens, Ga. and in Watkinsville, Ga. The characteristics of the cultivar have been stable and reproduced true to type in successive vegetative generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PIILC-II’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with changes in light, temperature, soil and rainfall without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. In combination these characteristics distinguish ‘PIILC-II’ from all other varieties in commerce known to the inventor. 1) Compact, mounded, spreading growth habit. 2) Rich ruby-red new growth maturing to purplish green foliage that persists through summer and winter. 3) Bright reddish pink flowers in spring. 4) Improved cold hardiness compared to other compact purple-leaf cultivars.

‘PIILC-II’ is distinguished from its female parent ‘Chang Nian Hong’ by its growth habit and foliage color. ‘PIILC-II’ has a compact mounded, spreading growth habit reaching only 170 cm high×224 cm wide after about 4 years, whereas ‘Chang Nian Hong’ has an overall larger, rounded growth habit. ‘PIILC-II’ has rich, ruby-red new growth maturing to purplish green foliage that persists through summer and winter, whereas ‘Chang Nian Hong’ has duller red-purple foliage that will become greenish purple due to stress in summer and winter. There are no other cultivars of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum with this combination of traits known to the inventor.

‘PIILC-II’ can be compared to the cultivar ‘Shang-hi’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,331) but is distinguished by its growth habit, foliage color, and flower color. ‘Shang-hi’ has a dense, upright, globose habit, dark purple foliage, and dark pink flowers, whereas ‘PIILC-II’ has a compact, mounded, spreading growth habit, rich ruby-red new growth maturing to purplish green foliage, and bright reddish pink flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying illustrations show characteristics of the new cultivar in photographs as true to color as is reasonably possible to make in illustrations of this nature. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Loropetalum.

FIG. 1 illustrates the growth habit of a ‘PIILC-II’ plant growing in the ground.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up of the flowers of ‘PIILC-II’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for the description were approximately 2 and a half years old and were grown in 11.8 L containers under outdoor conditions in Watkinsville, Ga. Colors are described using The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.).

-   Botanical classification: Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum, cultivar     ‘PIILC-II’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum             ‘Chang Nian Hong’ (not patented).         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown (open-pollinated). -   Propagation: Type cutting: terminal cuttings.     -   -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 35 days at 32° C. -   Plant description: Flowering shrub; compact, mounded, spreading     growth habit. Freely branching; pruning enhances lateral branch     development.     -   -   Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous and well-branched.         -   Plant size.—The original plant, now about 4-years-old in the             ground, is about 170 cm in height from the soil level to the             top of the foliage, and about 224 cm in diameter. First year             stems have a length of 25.4 cm to 30.48 cm. First year stems             have a diameter of about 1 mm. Shape: round. Color: 187A.             Pubescence: heavily stellate. Second year stems have a             length of 45.72 cm to 60.96 cm. Second year and older stems             have a diameter of about 3 mm or more. Shape: round. Color:             199B. Pubescence: none.         -   Trunk diameter.—About 4 cm at the soil line. Color: 199A.         -   Internode length.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Strength.—Flexible when young, easily broken once mature.         -   Bark.—Exfoliates in flakes beginning on second or third year             stems. -   Vegetative buds: Alternate in arrangement, imbricate, with stellate     pubescence.     -   -   Color.—185B.         -   Size.—About 1 mm in length and 1 mm in width. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate-rounded.         -   Apex.—Pointed.         -   Base.—Oblique.         -   Margin.—Finely toothed.         -   Texture (upper and lower surfaces).—Sandpaper like             pubescence.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color in developing foliage (upper and lower             surfaces).—187A.         -   Venation color in fully expanded foliage (upper             surface).—N186A.         -   Venation color in fully expanded foliage (lower             surface).—59B.         -   Color in developing foliage (upper and lower             surfaces).—187A.         -   Color in fully expanded foliage (upper surface).—N186A.         -   Color in fully expanded foliage (lower surface).—N77C.         -   Petiole length.—About 3 mm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 1 mm.         -   Petiole color.—187A.         -   Pubescence.—Stellate. -   Flower description: Flowers are produced in April in Watkinsville,     Ga. and sporadically until frost. An inflorescence is showy for     about two weeks, and individual flowers last about two to three days     and are self-cleaning. Fragrance: none.     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel produced from leaf axils and             terminally.         -   Inflorescence length (depth).—About 2.6 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Four to five strap-like petals forming a loose             funnel. Number of florets per inflorescence: 4-8.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: opposite. Number: 4. Shape: ovate.             Margin. entire. Apex: acute to obtuse turning outward. Base:             fused onto calyx cup. Length: 0.32 cm. Width: 0.2 cm.             Texture: pubescent. Color: upper surface — 64C; lower             surface — 59C.         -   Peduncle.—About 3 mm in length, about 1 mm in diameter,             color is 187A, with stellate pubescence.         -   Flower buds.—Shape: orbicular. Length: about 4 mm. Diameter:             about 2 mm. Quantity of flower buds: four to eight flower             buds on branchlet terminals abundantly cover the plant.             Color: 187D.         -   Calyx.—About 6 mm in length, about 3 mm in diameter, color             187D both surfaces, with stellate pubescence. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement/appearance.—Opposite, 4 to 6 per flower.         -   Petal length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Petal width.—About 2.2 mm.         -   Petal shape.—Strap-shaped.         -   Petal apex.—Acuminate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Petal base.—Obtuse.         -   Petal color.—Upper and lower surfaces are 60B. -   Stamens:     -   -   Quantity/arrangement.—4 or 5 stamens, 1.5 mm long, 0.3 mm in             width, and 187B in color.         -   Pollen.—Produced in very small quantities and is 158A in             color. -   Pistils:     -   -   Quantity.—One or two inferior pistils per flower.         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Pistil length.—About 2.5 mm in length.         -   Pistil color.—60A.         -   Stigma.—Rounded, 60A in color.         -   Style.—1 mm in length and 60A in color.         -   Ovary.—1.5 mm in length, 1.5 mm in diameter, and 60A in             color. -   Fruit:     -   -   Type/appearance.—Woody, two-valved, ovoid capsule.         -   Length.—About 6 mm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Mature color.—Close to 200C. Each capsule contains one or             two seeds that are about 5 mm long, 2 mm wide, and close to             200A in color. A mature plant will produce 25 to 50 fruits. -   Plant hardiness:     -   -   Plant hardiness.—USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2012): Zone             7 to 9.

Plants of the claimed Loropetalum cultivar grown in the garden have not been noted to be susceptible or resistant to pathogens and pests common to Loropetalum. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum plant named ‘PIILC-II’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 